Is 'Big Bang Theory' The Next 'Friends'?

Once upon a time, a multi-camera comedy about a group of young single friends, the core of them living across the hall from each other in an apartment building, aired Thursdays at 8 PM and was the biggest show on television. Will that happen again? Is The Big Bang Theory the new Friends? While the nerdy geniuses from Big Bang seem light years away from the cool and sexy bunch on the hit NBC comedy, the two shows have a lot more in common than meets the eye. Both are ensemble comedies largely set at the two apartments across from each other where the main character live. A guy from one of the apartments starts dating a girl from the other. Both shows have catchy title songs. And now, they both share the Thursday 8PM time slot. Just how ballsy was CBS’ decision to launch a comedy block at 8 PM anchored by Big Bang? The last time the network tried that was 45 years ago with Gilligan’s Island at 8 PM.

There has always been an invisible segregation on the TV schedule. For instance, Thursday has always been NBC’s comedy night, Monday has been CBS’. Will viewers follow Big Bang if it leaves sheltered existence on CBS’ established comedy night and ventures into hostile territory? CBS already has a solid track record in gaining ground on Thursday: It was the first network to undermine NBC’s dominance on the night when it moved Survivor and CSI there nine years ago. And Big Bang already is the highest-rated scripted series on television. But it became No.1 thanks to airing behind Two and a Half Men this season. Its originals hover above a 5 rating in adults 18-49, but when it aired as an anchor at 9 PM recently, it dropped to a 4.6 rating. Even at that level, Big Bang would probably be the highest rated series on Thursday night but I’m sure CBS didn’t go through all this trouble to get only a marginal improvement over long-time Thursday anchor Survivor. I’m sure CBS is hoping for a big ratings bang; I’m sure it is hoping for a new Friends.

How i met your mother is by far the worst show of all time,the big bang theory is the best

bill hader • on May 24, 2010 7:34 pm

why does it have to be the new anything. no wonder the networks can’t come up with anything original. everyone wants it to be a rehashed sitcom from the last century. can this show just be for crissake.

j6 • on May 25, 2010 3:02 pm

you’re obviously replying to a Waltons thread somewhere and became confused…

Dillan • on May 21, 2010 11:47 pm

Nellie, there is one major thing you’ve not touched on.

Friends was a global phenomenon, and still is to this day. I mean, take the UK for example, it’s been shown every day of the year (except national holidays) on either Channel 4 or E4 since 2001. That is fact.

Big Bang on the other hand isn’t popular at all. And I’ve never come across that many international fans from other countries.

Mariah • on May 22, 2010 11:36 am

Perhaps it’s just a British thing, because Big Bang runs on several different channels several times a week in Australia and seems to be really popular. It’s probably not near what Friends was in its heyday, but about four days a week, you can find back-to-back Big Bang eps running here, so I don’t think it’s doing poorly across the board internationally.

nick f • on May 22, 2010 12:16 pm

Nellie, this can never be Friends because it has no female POV. The female character in Big Bang is not recognizable to any female on this planet. She is a fantasy. Big Bang is clever and darling but there is no way Snow White would ever shag one of the dwarves.

jm • on May 23, 2010 8:59 am

she did

Chris • on May 24, 2010 10:24 am

In real life.

crayola • on May 24, 2010 1:56 pm

oh snap!

Rael • on May 24, 2010 2:34 pm

Great show but doesnt have enough of the elements as friends. I feel they treat Howard and Raj as secondary characters and Leonard, Sheldon and Penny as the main ones. In friends every character had an equal part in the cast, or thats how it felt watching the series.

I have to agree with the person who mentioned no female POV, but I do think that Penny is a more accessible character than some here do.

Penny is kind of Rachel before the job at Bloomingdales.

JohnDoe • on May 22, 2010 3:12 pm

I wasn’t aware Big Bang is doing poorly in other countries, because its one of the highest rated shows in the U.S. network TV. It doesn’t surprise me though, the comedy seems to be much more American style.

David Knapp • on May 22, 2010 8:35 pm

I don’t know about England but here in Australia I think it is very popular. It is running on the National Nine network and now on the cable T.V. channel “Comedy Channel”.
I am 52 and simply love it, my daughters (22 &21), their boyfriends and friends also love it. I would have thought that seeing the British & Aussies share a similar sense of humour that it would have been popular there, too.
Anyway it is good to see it has been “renewed” in the US. I just hope that it “works” now that it will be moving to a Thursday night spot!

TBBT hasn’t moved from Channel 4/E4 to Comedy Cental in the UK. It’s Friends which is making the move. After playing multiple times a day every day, the C4/E4 is finally giving up on the series.

It’s not surprising when you can easily buy the complete box set on DVD for less than £50 ($72).

TBBT still gets plays on C4 and E4 across the week. But no – it’s not bigger than Friends, although I personally much prefer it to Friends.

But there basically aren’t any US comedies playing in prime time now in the UK on major channels. The days of Channel 4’s Friday comedy block containing Friends, Frasier and perhaps a homegrown sitcom seem to have gone. Don’t forget, Friends even came over and filmed an episode here.

Today, Glee is probably the most successful comedy import. It does get a primetime play.

Carlos • on May 24, 2010 12:31 pm

Actually, the series is a huge hit in Latin America. It is on about 4 times a week!

CA • on Aug 19, 2010 7:44 pm

Actually, this show is IMMENSELY popular in central and south America, as well as the Philippines and other Asian countries.

Mariana • on Jun 19, 2011 4:47 pm

The Big Bang Theory is #1 in Latin America.

Lemon • on Apr 9, 2012 5:29 pm

Not that popular internationally? It’s been the number one show in Canada for the past three years. Considering others reactions as to other countries’ ratings, I’d say your presumption is way off.

I hate to nitpick, but he’s right. This post is particularly bad, but I’ve been noticing a spate of spelling and grammar issues in recent posts from the new writers. Believe me, there are plenty of unemployed/former journalists who’d be more than willing to give a good copyedit.

Jackie Venice • on May 23, 2010 12:38 am

And this isn’t her first post where she butchered the language.

I remember when Nikki wrote all of DH posts and they were right on target. These new writers make me want to get my news elsewhere.

I’m sorry but How I Met Your Mother is already the current “Friends”. Big Bang Theory is good, but How I Met Your Mother is far more accessible and has it’s own language at this point. Moments reference events from several season earlier and it works. The entire show is superior.

I love both, but I think HIMYM is the better show.

RJ • on May 22, 2010 8:30 am

Yeah right, How I Met Your Mother sucks. The show went way downhill after this season to the point I stopped watching.

neil • on May 22, 2010 7:47 pm

ITA. And Two And A Half Men???? Even with TBBT, I am still waiting for it to hit its stride; interesting and sometimes very funny. But with that said it is my opinion that the animation serials seem to be the ones that have taken over TV comedy these last couple of decades. So never mind what is the new ‘Friends’ but is the Family Guy the king of TV comedy.

I’m sorry but you’re saying Family Guy is the king of comedy over HIMYM? The show that’s hemorrhaging viewers like crazy to it’s two other spin offs?

South Park is the king of animated comedy and has been for the past decade. It’s far funnier than Family Guy, pushes the envelope more than they ever would, to the point that it’s episodes cause entire religions to send death threats.

In my world nothing is off limits when it comes to comedy, and because of that I’d say that South Park wins over Family Guy continually. No show has ever been as topical, irreverent or been able to swing going through ever range of comedy like they have. Episodes that have serious political messages and over tones, to episodes about retarded kids playing the special olympics, to episodes about a towel getting high… come on… South Park makes Family Guy look like a sad joke… both literally and figuratively.

Pocket • on May 26, 2010 12:13 pm

Thank you, Kent… and you didn’t even have to bring the manatee writing staff into this!

Ethan • on May 22, 2010 8:52 am

HIMYM was a good show until they started to water down the content. The show was not following the premise as to how this guy (Ted) met his children’s mother. I stop watching the show a few years back but I will watch the series finally. What show has become the next friends? The answer is simple… wait for it… wait for it… none. They’re close having similarities but the topics seem to be different; the the idea of a nerd actually getting with a hot chick… doesn’t possible. Episodes about Barney shown are just filler and meant to prolong the show.

MarshmallowLilypad • on May 24, 2010 7:42 am

I’d have to agree. HIMYM has already been the new Friends since before TBBT’s first pilot was rewritten to include Kaley Cuoco, and the guys who play Howard and Raj. I love both shows but have to admit that despite some failings this year, like the 100th episode didn’t show the mother’s face, HIMYM is still the closest thing to Friends on at the moment.

If TBBT wanted to be more like Friends, they needed to introduce another female character. I know they had Leslie Winkle but she’s more of an anti-Sheldon than a serious love interest for anyone. They did that with Bernadette but for some mad reason, didn’t use her as often as they should have and then two weeks ago, got Howard to admit they broke up a few weeks earlier but he didn’t want to say anything. Was that just because the actress went for a pilot which didn’t happen? And similarly, apart from tonight’s season finale, when will they use Leslie Winkle again?

Both shows have their faults but HIMYM have less glaring ones. Just my two cents.

Jonny Q • on May 22, 2010 1:05 am

From that promo pic, seems more like the show oughtta be called “The Gang Bang Theory.”

It’s a funny show, but it feels like it lacks that “must see” element — there’s more of an ick factor to it.

Much as we love “TBBT” it’s a bit of a time period hit, isn’t it? To make it into another “Friends” would probably require doing things to the show that might broaden its appeal but could kill its charm.

Let’s hope it can thrive while still keeping true to its geeky heart!

Larry David Stern • on May 22, 2010 1:27 am

In a word, NO. I think I know like 2 people who watch it.

steve • on May 22, 2010 1:15 pm

that’s 2 more than I know!

writefunny • on May 22, 2010 1:41 am

Is Big Bang the next Friends? Like saying — Is Speed 2 the next Die Hard? Or — Is Britney Spears the next Mariah Carey? Or — ouch — Is Coupling the next Friends?

Duhmot Mulroney • on May 23, 2010 9:31 pm

This reminds me of the time Sports Illustrated proclaimed Harold Miner to be “Baby Jordan.”

Yeah. It’s not the next Friends. It’s barely more than the next “The Single Guy.”

INtersted Observer • on May 22, 2010 1:54 am

Good analysis, they probably need to tweak the show and bring in in a new female cast member. NBC is totally vulnerable, but BBT needs to move in for the kill as quickly and surgically as possible. Maybe Chris Elliot’s daughter from SNL.

Griffin Mill • on May 22, 2010 2:16 am

“…the two shows have a lot more in common than MEATS the eye. Both are ensemble comedies largely set at the two apartments across from each other where the main character LEAVE…”

Is this article written in ENGLISH? Good lord, Penske. It reads like it was dictated over a dial-up modem to a transcription service in Bangalore.

Michelle T • on May 22, 2010 2:30 am

Big Bang Theory is a very funny show. Community is extraordinary. While Community may get clobbered at first, I’m rooting for it.

JohnDoe • on May 22, 2010 3:15 pm

I agree. Love the show. I think it appeals to a much younger, and college educated audience. It doesn’t rely on shit jokes and whores like Two and Half Men to get laughs. I can’t really see it appealing to anyone over the age of 45 though…

TinaB • on May 24, 2010 6:51 am

My husband and I are both over 50 and we love this show. The best comedy on TV. I love HIMYM too, but BBT is intelligent and fun, a combo not often seen.

You and me both. I don’t wish TBBT ill by any means, but I love Community.

Diablo • on May 24, 2010 7:45 am

My 2 fave comedies are going up against each other in the Fall. Why network schedulers, why?

If Big Bang needs some sassy chicks to become Friends, Chuck Lorre could do worse than steal away the actresses who play Britta and Annie, particularly Annie.

nope • on May 22, 2010 2:51 am

it wasn’t the biggest show until seinfeld went off the air. everyone just remember that…

Daniel • on May 22, 2010 3:38 am

Short answer: No.

Knute • on May 22, 2010 4:48 am

Love the show. It’s really found its rhythm, and has more geek cred than anything on the majors.

Frank • on May 22, 2010 5:20 am

If you have to ask if it’s the next “Friends”…it isn’t the next “Friends”.

jake • on May 22, 2010 5:49 am

You are exactly right, i never thought about the similarities. I just can’t get into Big bang and I think Friends is THE best sitcom ever. Anyways, CBS is gonna clobber and teach NBC a lesson when this show moves to Thursdays because it is gonna be a ratings powerhouse. NBC refuses to make any changes to its lackluster, single camera series — when the most popular sitcoms have been multi camera series. I don’t feel sorry for you at all NBC when CBS rules on Thursdays — it won’t be a big bang, it will be a huge explosion.

der • on May 22, 2010 2:50 pm

Cuz the big bang was a small explosion?

ChucksTheMan • on May 22, 2010 7:09 am

Big Bang is like Friends with better writing. Friends was about great casting. The writing was always secondary and largely hacky. They did an episode about Shark Porn — need I say more? It wouldve never worked with different actors which is why it never won any writing Emmys. BB is heading for Emmy glory. And no I don’t work on the show.

RodeoTAS • on May 22, 2010 7:46 am

BBT is the only show that I absolutely have to see each week. The geek factor is what drew me to watching it in the first place. It is a show that I can relate to. As much as the show is compaired to Friends, BBT is far by far superior. Bazinga!

smartman • on May 22, 2010 7:49 am

best move by any network. Big Bang is gonna kill NBC. And I have nothing at stake in this – just the enjoyment of watching three really nice people have a hit show – Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco and Jim Parsons deserve all of this.

Betsy • on May 22, 2010 8:04 am

I feel compelled to respond to Dillon’s comment. I attended a taping of Big Bang Theory this season (The Jiminy Conjecture), and I met people in line who flew from England and Brazil. They both told me that this show is a phenomenon in their countries. Furtermore, when the cast went to Mexico last year, they were mobbed ala the Beattles. I think it’s fair to say that this show is gaining ground quickly and could easily be the next “Friends.”

Dillan • on May 23, 2010 7:31 am

I’m sorry, it really isn’t that popular in the UK.

It gets 400,000 viewers, which is pretty average. Ironically, that’s the same number of viewers a standard repeat of Friends gets, even to this day.

Dillan • on May 23, 2010 7:38 am

Oh please, Australia has a population of 22 million people. Being big in such a market doesn’t make a series a global phenomenon. Otherwise series like Smallville would be renowned as such, being one of the highest rated US imports in the Latin American market.

Friends was big pretty much everywhere. Not only in the US and Canada, but in the UK, Europe, Middle East, parts of Africa, most of the Indian subcontinent, the Far East and even South America. I imagine it was big in Australia too.

Joe Randa • on May 22, 2010 8:08 am

Uh, the other thing: time slots were relevant when Friends aired. They’re not anymore.

cali • on May 22, 2010 8:54 am

I am so irked that they are moving it to Thursdays! Monday night is Chinese takeout night and we watch our 4 comedies in a row. I guess I will have to DVR it and watch it the following Monday with the other 3. :)

html • on May 22, 2010 9:08 am

Jim Parsons’ character gives many people the creeps: akin to Martin Short’s Ed Grimley character but with even more nauseating affectations.

‘Friends’ has much broader appeal — and has virtually no insider jokes on nuclear fission — which, of course, kills ’em everytime.

And, with the coming slate of increased Fall 2010 sitcoms, isn’t every night soon to (finally!) be Thursday at 8PM on all networks?

Kevin • on May 22, 2010 2:54 pm

Jim Parsons timing is impeccable and the fact that he can deliver his lines so well is amazing. Those are some of the toughest lines to deliver in years.

BBT’s characters are well defined which helps make the jokes work so well. And they are likable. That helps any joke work. No matter how inside… you want to laugh, unless you are a super serious ignorant type that has to have funny defined (even in html!)

Friends bored me and was totally geared to females. I only knew women who liked that show.